Walther is a company on the rise. As you can probably tell by all of the press attention, the venerable old German arms maker has really hit one out of the park with their PPQ M2. My initial impression of the PPQ M2 is that it may just be the best GLOCK clone made to date. Nonetheless, while the PPQ M2 may be all the rage, another new less expensive “entry level” Walther handgun recently hit the market: the PPX. To be honest, when I first unboxed the PPX, I thought it was a frickin’ Hi-Point. Which is to say that it’s rather, um, portly and homely in the looks department. And apparently I’m not alone in this observation. But after spending a couple of months testing the PPX, I’ve really warmed up to this plump princess . . .

One thing is for sure: this ain’t your pa-paw’s war baby P-38. Unlike the svelte lines of the all-steel P-38, the PPX is a stout, full-sized, polymer pistol with a weird bent handgrip that vaguely reminded me of the Colt All-American 2000. The polymer PPX, though, is much lighter than the P-38, appearances notwithstanding. Like a P-38, the PPX is made in the vaterland: Walther’s factory is located a few miles outside of Ulm, a medium-sized city in Baden-Württemberg, Germany.

The PPX features no manually-operated safeties, and doesn’t have a decocker. The slide has an extremely high bore axis, which reminds me of shooting a SIG Sauer P-226 or an HK USP. As mentioned above, it also has a very pronounced hump on the back of the handgrip which will undoubtedly generate both praise and criticism. In my case it’s praise. This pistol is so darn comfortable to hold, I’m totally willing to overlook the fact that it is aesthetically off-putting. The PPX doesn’t feature interchangeable back straps like the PPQ, so it’s a one-size-fits-most affair. I guess that’s a feature you give up in order to get to the $400 price point. Fair enough.

What’s new about this pistol, you ask? While not offering any earthshattering advances in pistol technology, there are two “unique” aspects of the PPX. First, the PPX introduces manufacturing efficiencies into the design so that the weapon can be produced at a considerably reduced price point compared to other Walthers. In other words, it’s cheaper to build, and they pass the saving on to you.

As many gun dealers will tell you, $400 pistols are a lot easier to sell than $600 pistols. In this regard, it reminds me conceptually of the SIG Sauer 250, which I believe was intended to be “entry level” gun that doesn’t sacrifice on quality, while selling for less than the price of a GLOCK.

Second, the trigger on the Walther PPX is both excellent and unique. At the 2013 SHOT Show, Walther reps were calling it a “DAO” trigger. The PPX trigger is, in my estimation, more correctly referred to as a “pre-set” or “pre-cocked” trigger. Pre-set triggers are most commonly encountered on striker fired designs such as the GLOCK, M&P, and Kahr pistols. These systems typically feature a striker that is “cocked” to an intermediate position by the operation of the slide, and the trigger then completes the firing sequence. Most pre-set triggers lack de-cockers and can’t be re-activated by pulling the trigger a second time.

People have been debating for years whether these triggers are really “double action.” I hesitate to endorse the term “DAO” when referring to this trigger, though, because it is really something in between a double action and a single action trigger. While it’s true that the BATFE classifies the PPX design as “double action only”, the PPX’s trigger can’t completely cock the hammer; the slide must first be racked. Furthermore, the PPX trigger does not give you a second strike capability which, as far as I’m concerned, is one of the hallmarks of a true DA trigger. But perhaps even that point is debatable. In the final analysis, I suppose it doesn’t really matter so long as you understand how these various triggers work.

As mentioned above, the PPX features a system that’s similar in concept to the GLOCK. But unlike Gaston’s design, the PPX uses a bobbed hammer instead of a striker. Again, the PPX’s hammer is partially cocked when the slide is racked. The trigger pull then completes the cocking sequence and drops the hammer. Thus, the PPX doesn’t feel as heavy as a typical DAO trigger since it’s not completing that initial cocking sequence. True DAO triggers typically have painfully long and heavy accuracy-robbing trigger pull weights of 10 lbs or more.

The PPX’s trigger, on the other hand, feels somewhat like a two stage rifle trigger. It has a fairly long, but easy (slightly progressive) take up, and then it reaches an obvious “wall.” At that point, pulling through the wall with what Walther says is 6.6 lbs of force makes the gun go bang. It then resets at approximately the half-way point of the full return travel. The trigger is relatively light and crisp, and frankly, it feels very similar (if not better) than my GLOCK 17, which has an (aftermarket?) 3.5 lb connector.

Perhaps it’s worth mentioning, however, that the PPX’s manual states that its trigger should never be “stacked” the way a shooter would with a military two-stage trigger when a high degree of accuracy is needed. I don’t understand why Walther would advise against this practice, especially when target shooting, but it sounds like it’s some sort of lawyer thing.

All this discussion leads to the question: should you carry the PPX with one in the pipe? Personally, I’ve always been somewhat nervous about carrying any of the GLOCKS/GLOCK clones with a round loaded in the chamber. I’ve heard too many stories about people, including cops, “accidentally” shooting themselves and the trigger on the PPX feels even lighter than a standard stock five pound GLOCK trigger, even if it isn’t supposed to be. I know lots of guys who carry GLOCKS with one in the pipe and they will tell you, correctly, that they are safe if you (a) are properly trained, and (b) you ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS carry the Glock in a quality holster made specifically for that particular gun that completely covers the trigger guard. Although I tend to be of the mindset that I need a manual safety on my concealed carry gun, these are matters of personal preference.

The Walther PPX has been designed so that the controls and sights are as snag-free as possible. The edges are beveled to increase the portability of the pistol. The slide stop and magazine release buttons are big, comfortable, and easy to reach even with small hands.

Walther’s marketing materials and website state that the slide stop is “ambidextrous,” but Walther’s Director of Marketing, Mark Thomas, confirmed to me that this is a typo. No worries. I can’t seem to get a review published without a typo or two, so I feel their pain.

Despite being an “entry level” gun, there’s really nothing in the look and feel of the PPX that’s second rate. The quality of the machining of the slide is top notch. Tool marks are non-existent.

The PPX’s Tenifer finish is both durable and attractive. What’s Tenifer, you ask? Basically, it’s a tough durable finish for gun metal. If you own a GLOCK or a Steyr, you’re already familiar with Tenifer. Other companies provide more-or-less the same finish under the trade name Melonite.

There is no getting around the fact that the PPX is a “full size” pistol. The slide is truly massive. For purposes of comparison, I photographed a variety of 9mm pistols that I had handy (along with a HK USP-T in .45 ACP), and this photo above shows how big the PPX slide really is. As the photo shows, the PPX is almost as large as the HK USP-Tactical. (From top: S&W Performance Center “Recon 9” compact, Lionheart LH9, SIG Sauer P-6 (aka P-225), Steyr M9, GLOCK 17, Walther PPX, HK USP-T).

The PPX is slightly thicker (in width) than the GLOCK 17 and the Steyr M9. Note that although the PPX is the same overall length as a GLOCK, GLOCK’s designers managed to fit an extra ½ inch of barrel into the slide. A ½ inch longer barrel should result in slightly more bullet velocity which, in turn, should translate to a little more stopping power. (From Top: GLOCK 17, Steyr M9, Walther PPX).

The Barrel

The barrel assembly is made out of three parts. This is not unprecedented – Post ’61 Browning Hi-Powers all feature 2-piece barrel assemblies.

The PPX is unique (as far as I know) because it acheives a certain amount of cost savings by using a barrel/breech block that’s partially made out of MIM parts. You can see in the three accompanying photos (above and below) that the barrel is not a one-piece design like a GLOCK’s. Rather, the locking mechanism consists of at least three separate parts. It’s hard to tell if the barrel itself is pressed into the breach block, similar to the way that Steyr press fits the barrels on the SSG-69, or if another process is used. However it’s done, the feed ramp is added (welded?) on later. I emailed Walther about this process and here’s what they said:

Barrels that come in one piece can have a tendency to deform. Our barrel comes from a design being used by many traditional bolt action and other hunting rifles. We have patented this design for pistols so this is only new in pistol design.

Hmmm…. I’ve never heard of pistol barrels “deforming.” And it’s certainly not intuitive to me how a three piece barrel design would remedy that problem, if it in fact exists. Browning apparently used to make this same claim; they said that the two-piece barrel allowed for better “grain flow” through the cam lug area and that the finished product was actually stronger than a one-piece barrel. Not sure I’m buying any of that; I’m thinking it’s all about cutting costs. Otherwise, the PPQ would be made the same way, right?

No matter, Walther seems to be confident in their product:

Over a half million rounds have been put through the PPX over 3.5 years of development. We also do a battery of tests including drop tests, heat and cold tests along with technical tests on torque and wear. We didn’t release this handgun until it was ready.

Sigh. I can only dream of having a half million rounds on hand for testing. For my test, I only managed to shoot 700 rounds of hard-to-find 9 x 19mm through the PPX, but so far so good.

Walther takes a somewhat unique approach to the design of the PPX feed ramp and chamber face. In the photo above (the PPX is in the middle), you can see a pronounced funnel-like feature on all 360 degrees of the chamber face. This is very pronounced when compared to similar pistols. (L-R: SIG Sauer P6, GLOCK 17 Gen 2, Walther PPX, HK USP-T, Steyr M9). In addition, the ramp design has a much smaller concave “spoon” design than is typical for these types of pistols.

I really like the idea of adding the 360° funnel. Walther wanted to design a system that worked well with almost all types of modern ammunition. Given that there are so many different types of bullet shapes on the market (especially in .40 S&W), the funnel should significantly aid the feeding process. Maybe it will even help “gangstas” who like to shoot holding their pistol sideways. (Photo below, top to bottom: SIG Sauer P6, Steyr M9, Walther PPX, GLOCK 17, HK USP-T.

The Picatinny Rail

The PPX features an integral polymer M1913 Picatinny rail for mounting lights, lasers, or any other silly thing you can think of. These rails are great for home defense guns, but I don’t like them as much on concealed carry guns.

I’ve always been a fan of flashlights attached to home defense weapons. Some gun gurus don’t like them, and you can read endless amounts of arguments both for and against them. For me it comes down to this: if there is a bad guy in my house in the middle of the night (assuming the alarm doesn’t go off), I will be lucky enough to have the presence of mind to snap out of my sleep-induced coma and grab my gun before the perp gets the drop on me. Remembering a separate flashlight may be asking too much, however. So when I do come to the realization that I need a flashlight to ID my target before shooting it, it will be nice to know that it will be right where I left it – on the fore-end of my gun. Again, YMMV.

The serial number plate also provides information concerning the time and location of manufacture. The “DE” annotation is the country of origin, in this case Deutschland. The chicken flexing its muscles is called the “Bundesadler.” It’s the Federal Eagle coat of arms. The “N” below the eagle means “Normaler/Nitro Beschuss”, indicating that this weapon has undergone normal testing procedures using nitrocellulose rounds. The “BC” annotation is the date of testing, in this case 2012. The antler is the mark of the Beschussamt Ulm proof house, located right down the street from the Walther factory. This is where all German-made Walther pistols (and others, such as HK, etc) are tested.

Magazines

One area where Walther definitely went first class is with their OEM magazines. The pistol comes with two 16-round steel mags, which are manufactured for Walther by the Italian firm Mec-Gar. Mec-Gar is undoubtedly one of the top manufacturers of high-quality OEM pistol magazines, and its client list boasts the likes of S&W, Beretta, Ruger, Walther, Steyr, SIG Sauer, Colt, CZ, etc.

I immediately noticed a definite similarity in the finish of the magazines that came with my Steyr M9, as you see in the photo above (from left: Steyr M9 17 rd, Walther PPX 16 rd, Steyr M9 17 rd, Walther PPX 16 rd). The Base plate is made out of plastic, but appears to be rugged enough to handle a fair amount of abuse.

Sights

Sights are one of those parts of a pistol where shooters tend to have very divergent views, and opinions about any one particular design will typically be all over the map. The PPX sights are a three dot steel variety. The dots are a bit larger than those found on most handguns, which makes for very rapid target acquisition. I’m good with these sights and would only swap them out if I can get night sights that will fit.

The dovetail on the PPX appears to be a design unique to Walther, and my understanding is that the same dovetail can be found on the PPQ and PPS as well (although those pistols have a more sophisticated detent/plunger that allows for rear sights to be quickly swapped out without special tools). I’m not aware of any other pistol that uses this dovetail design. I’m not sure why Walther would want to be different in this regard, but I assume there’s some efficiency factor that’s coming to bear on the design. Perhaps this?

Currently, Walther doesn’t offer night sights for the PPX. According to the factory reps, however, the company is researching the feasibility of adding night sights to the product line, and feel certain that they’ll be offered in the future.

Accuracy

In the interest of full disclosure, I will confess that I find the concept of accuracy on a handgun of this sort a whole lot less interesting than rifle accuracy. I’m a decent pistol shot, but I’m not going to get an invite to compete on Top Shot any time soon. For my purposes, so long as the handgun in question can, say, consistently hit apple-sized targets at 10 yards, I find that to be sufficient for my purposes. Minute of bad-guy accuracy, if you will.

And frankly, from the first second I held the PPX and felt its trigger pull, I knew that it would be a very accurate pistol that could meet or exceed my (admittedly low) standards. The four groups above were shot at 10 yards using cheap bulk reload ammo. The photo below was taken from 7 yards, using the same ammo. The Walther PPX shoots to point of aim, and while I am very happy with the results, I suspect that it could – in hands of a more capable shooter – do better than the groups I have presented here.

Loaded chamber indicator: The PPX has a loaded chamber viewport, which is similar to those found on the Smith & Wesson M&Ps;

Three safeties: two drop safeties and a firing pin block;

The magazine release is in the traditional “American” position and is reversible at the operator level, so that southpaws can optimize the ergonomics without gunsmith assistance;

Front and rear slide serrations for increased grip;

The texture pattern on the grip is extremely well thought out, and provides a non-slip surface while still maintaining comfort for the user;

There is no magazine disconnect feature: the PPX will fire even without a magazine inserted in the magwell; and

1 year warranty. Really, only one year? Pretty lame, Walther.

Not rated for +P or +P+ ammo.

My test sample didn’t come with a threaded barrel. I hope Walther will make these available as a drop-in accessory. According to Walther’s marketing director, Mark Thomas, no decision has been made on this issue yet.

Conclusion

I’ve always been a fan of Walther pistols, if for no other reason that they tend to look cool. Whether you’re talking the PPK, P-38, P5, or P99, Walther pistols have always had that “look” of awesomeness about them. (P5 shown above). I guess the PPX is the ugly duckling of the family; perhaps not as ugly as the Springfield XD, but on the homely side nonetheless. But the PPX is good where it really counts: performance and value. You might say it’s the minivan of polymer pistols; not a looker but pretty darn practical and economical.

I think Walther’s press release for the PPX sums it up best:

We are very excited about the new Walther PPX because it has all the features law enforcement and avid shooters have come to expect from Walther but is affordable so it can fit in anyone’s shooting budget,” said Adam Blalock, President and CEO of Fort Smith-based Walther Arms, Inc. “This is one pistol that truly has to be fired to appreciate and it is certainly worthy of the Walther name.

I agree that the PPX is a pistol that grows on you when you fire it. While this pistol would not, in my estimation, be a good candidate for a concealed carry piece due to its bulk, relatively light trigger, and lack of manual safety, I do think the Walther PPX will serve very nicely in the role of an inexpensive-but-reliable home defense pistol or range plinker.

Bottom line: would I recommend the PPX to someone looking for an entry level pistol in the $400 price range? Absolutely. If the buyer has some additional coin I would probably steer them towards a PPQ M2 or an M&P. My only real hesitation: I do wish the PPX were rated for +P and +P+ ammunition, as the 9 x 19mm needs all the help it can get in the man-stopper department.

Accuracy: * * * * *
A good trigger equals good accuracy, and Walther is really paying attention to its trigger design. I seriously doubt that there is any other 9mm semi-auto pistol in the $400 price that is more accurate than the PPX.

Ergonomics: * * * *
Pistol ergonomics can be kind of a “blonde vs brunette vs redhead” type of debate. You will either love the PPX or hate it, but you won’t know until you try it out. If you liked the ergonomics of the P-99, you’ll probably like the PPX. The slide lock is easy to reach, and since there are no manually operated safeties, the only real ergonomics issue is the grip. I find the Walther PPX to be comfortable in my hand. The mag well takes some getting used to, and I found it somewhat difficult at first to perform magazine changes because the handgrip appears to be vertically aligned while the mag well is more angled.

Reliability: * * * * *
I shot over 700 rounds of factory ammo through the PPX and experienced no malfunctions of any kind. In the short term, I have total confidence in the fact that this pistol will go “bang” every time. Whether that will hold up into round 25,000(+) remains an open question, although Walther, naturally enough, proclaims confidence.

Durability: * * * *
I didn’t torture test this gun and, frankly, 700 rounds is hardly enough to give much indication about the long-term durability of a firearm. After 700 rounds, there were no signs of weakness in the materials or design. Well, other than one minor thing: the hammer does appear to be pinged from impact. While this is largely cosmetic, it’s also not very confidence-inspiring.

Customization: * *
Threaded barrels are available for this pistol as are 10-round magazines for those unfortunates who live in states controlled by controlling socialists. The picatinny rail allows you to bolt on whatever toys you want. Holsters for the PPX are pretty still rare (non-existent?) at this point. No night sights yet, but I remain hopeful.

Overall: * * * * ½
The PPX offers a lot of gun for the money – undoubtedly it has to be one of the best pistols you can buy in the $350 to $450 price range. I can’t say “the best” because I simply haven’t had the chance to try everything out there. Yet. And besides, so much of what makes a pistol “right” for any given user is a matter of personal preference as to to fit, the look of the sights, the type of triggers, etc.

As I said before, this gun is really too fat and bulky to be my first choice as a concealed carry gun. But some guys will carry a full size M-1911 or GLOCK 17 with no concerns, so if you fall into that category, the PPX won’t present any unique concealment issues. But the PPX is an excellent choice as a range plinker or a reliable home defense handgun. It would also serve well as a duty pistol for those law enforcement agencies with limited budgets who can’t justify the purchase of a PPQ.

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81 Responses to Gun Review: Walther PPX

I own the origional PPQ and for 200ish less you get a trigger that is almost as good in the PPX. For the extra 200 I PERSONALLY would buy the PPQ, but for someone who just needs ONE GUN to keep on the nightstand for when things go bad this is an excellent gun.

I agree with the +P or +P+ ammo rating though, I think most casual gun people are not going to know the difference and end up using +P through one of these.

Many of the more modern defensive JHPs such as Federal HST perform similarly (or in some cases, better) to their +p counterparts in the same caliber as bullet weight increases. The P9HST2 147gr is an excellent example of this.

As weight increases, the additional velocity of +p may not necessarily be worth the extra flash and push in terms of terminal performance.

The thing is, you can’t push 147 grains past 1050fps no matter how much propellant you stuff in it. Gravity wins. But, that;s the whole idea behind using big bullets. They have the advantages of being subsonic: quieter and with less felt recoil. It also retains its energy for longer distances but its trajectory is more affected by gravity’s negative acceleration (-32 ft/sec^2) Since kinetic energy is calculated from momentum, it’s still works out to velocity x mass. If you can’t increase velocity, you increase mass.

Plus, there are a few brands of regular pressure rounds that have the velocity of a +P rated round, like the Selliot & Bellier ammo that’s nominally rated at 1250fps for 115gr.

Walther may say it’s not rated for +P, but what they are saying is “don’t make a habit of it.” With only a year’s warranty, “Das ist der vorsichtigeren Ansatz!”

Wow… I love the slide / barrel comparison photos; fascinating to see the different feed ramps.

While I know every pistol TTAG reviews deserves to be evaluated for its own merits, I think the pistol market is competitive enough that reviews always need to feature comparisons like in this one. Great review!

The lack of any external safeties is the reason I sold my first PPX. However, there is no other pistol on the planet (except for a high-end 1911) that can rack its slide easier that the PPX. The PPX could be racked by a two year old or a 98-year old woman.

I suffer from a chronic whiplash injury that prevents me from racking a stiff slide. The stiffness of the slides is the reason why I bought and got rid of, in succession, four different pistols, including the Ruger 9E, Springfield XD, and two Walther P99 clones (the Magnum Research MR9 and the Canik TP9SA).

But, I had to get rid of two others for a different reason. i had a Sig P250 and a diamondback DB9FS. Both were relatively easy to rack but the DAO trigger on the P250 had such a long pull, it required burying it against the back of the trigger guard to trip the sear, and holding down the trigger with my finger resulted in it getting stuck in there while the gun’s recoil and muzzle flip twisted my finger with it. The last gun in this “musical polymer” playlist was the Diamondback DB9FS which was closest to how the PPX racks and also had a Glock-like blade trigger for a safety.

However, the room inside the trigger guard was even more narrow than in the P250. I could not put a thin gloved trigger finger inside the guard. Although the trigger itself did not have far to travel to trip the sear, and had a much lighter pull that the true revolver-like trigger on the P250, the problem was the same with respect to having your trigger finger pressed against the back of the guard with no room to rotate. My finger was twisted again by the gun.

Well, now that i’m back to Square One, I decided to order another PPX and to store it unchambered and decocked. To do that, you drop the mag, rack the slide to eject the round, and dry fire the trigger. When you need to use it, reinsert a mag and give a short tug on the back of the slide to get the gun ready for action. OR, you could let the trigger go through its one and only double-action movement to fire the first round, and from that point onwards, it’s pre-cocked.

The down side is remembering to keep your finger clear of the trigger and the trigger clear of any obstructions (as they say you should do), dropping the mag, and unchambering the round. I’ve been told by a gunsmith that the trigger is not that sensitive. Meaning, you still have to place your entire finger on the surface of the trigger and pull it through. So, allegedly, it’s not going to go off if something snags the edge of the trigger. Of course, I’ll have to test it for myself.

Nevertheless, I’m going to store it without one in the pipe. It’s intended as my home defender and I’ll just have to practice NOT putting my finger on the trigger until I have absolutely identified if there is a legitimate threat and I need to get ready to fire.

One other thing I like about the PPX – the takedown pin is identical to the P250.

Springfield has come up with a solution to the “safer” safetyless pistol. They incorporated the 1911 grip safety into the XD series. Since you have to do two things wrong to have an ND it reduces the danger from inadvertant trigger pulls. I don’t understand why more manufactures don’t incorporate the grip safety into their designs. Thr patent has to be in the public domain by now. The pistol remains ready to go when you need it while at the same time makes it safer to carry with a round in the chamber.

I agree I like the XD and XDM because of the grip safety.
The thing that frightens the heck out of me even with my PPQ in an OWB Kydex holster that fully covers the trigger is something I cant see catching that trigger just right.

With an XD or XDm you can reholster without applying the needed pressure to the grip safety.

This is one big reason why I wound up with two Springfields. The grip safety gives you the best of both worlds: it won’t fire if something snags the trigger when you’re not gripping the handle, and if you’re holding the gun, then it’s ready to go.

Also, totally subjective, but to me they just feel right. I handled plenty of guns when I was pistol shopping, and when I picked up an XDm, I didn’t want to put it down.

Great thorough review. It is a deal breaker for me if the pistol is not rated for +P ammo. Regular 9mm fmj is fine for target shooting. However, for actual defense use I want to be able to use 9mm +P HP. In semi-autos I prefer a metal alloy or steel frame rather than polymer.

I love my Ruger P95 and take it to the range every time, no matter what the purpose of my trip is (zeroing a new scope, plinking with rimfire, etc.). My problem is finding a satisfying holster. Got any suggestions? I don’t need anything “tactical,” just practical.

Shank, like to help you out. But i live in the bay area. I’ve never needed a holster for the p95 and I no longer have the gun. Great gun, built like a tank and very accurate. Safe was too crowded and I needed to make room for my next purchase.

Ironic that people object to the PPX based on aesthetics.The bad guys around here don’t surrender to the person with the prettiest gun.A Tanfoglio Witness it is not,but the PPX is prettier than any Glock.

The trigger on this sounds like the one on the Beretta PX-4 I recently bought, called type C. Only dry fired it so far but I think it has a little heavier pull than 6lbs. I like the safety aspect of the heavier pull as well though it won’t be a carry gun.

If you put your thumb on the hammer will it prevent the trigger from being depressed? I ask because that is one features I like about a hammer fired gun, the fact that when holstering you can be certain that nothing is snagging on the trigger.

Also it’s a bit disingenuous to claim that 1/2 inch barrel is going to add anything significant to the “stopping power” of a pistol chambered in 9mm. While it will add more velocity that small of an amount is so marginal that you’d be hard pressed to find any distinct advantage to it in a self defense encounter.

It’s a bobbed hammer – designed in a manner so that there is no user interface. Its not really feasible to get you thumb in there to hold back the hammer. In fact, the only time the hammer is exposed is when the trigger is being pulled back.

As for the relationship between barrel length and stopping power, you might be right that the 50 fps +/- of additional velocity that you get out of that half inch of “extra” barrel may not provide a “distinct advantage,” but I do think that the 9mm round is kinda borderline as a reliable man-stopper, and the longer the barrel the better. I did think it was worth pointing out that the Walther PPX is an inefficient design from that perspective.

To succinct answer to your question about the “thumb on the hammer preventing the trigger from being depressed” is ‘NO’. You can readily pull the trigger, and have the hammer release and strike all the while thumbing the rear of the hammer. It is in no way a method of safe re-holstering or managing the ability to pull the trigger at all..it lends no safety at all.

Great handgun otherwise, it just simply has no other safety features other than what it stated plainly on the marketing pamphlet.

As a PPQ owner (my favorite 9×19, without question) I admit I am somewhat biased when manhandling the PPX. The ergos just feel off in comparison, and unlike the PPQ there’s nothing svelte about the PPX’s lines. Probably confirmation bias, but it just seems massive. As I have long fingers, I’ve also grown quite fond of the euro mag release (the very reason I was not fond of the M2).

All that said; if I had seen/handled the PPX prior to being spoiled by a PPQ, it’s entirely possible the tone of this post would be in favor of the PPX due to the excellent price point and ‘close-but-different’ ergonomics.

One question: magazine availability for the PPQ is abysmal. Any sense on the same being true for the PPX line?

Comprehensive review. I think a 4″ bbl pistol should be capable of 4″ group at 25yds off a rest of some sort. I believe that is the NRA standard review practice. Why do all these wonder nines look like they were carved out of a bar of soap? What happened to product design and ergonomics?

It’s nice to see a thorough review with great pictures making it easy to get a mental grasp on this new Walther made in Arkansas. I guess it’s a requirement of some kind to mention “Glock” as many times as possible when reviewing any new pistol. However, claiming that the PPX’s hammer fired operation is similar in concept to a Glocks striker system is ridiculous.

The PPX is made in Germany, not Arkansas. And if you are going to say something is “ridiculous,” at least explain why! Here is the basis for my comparison: both the PPX and the Glock have “pre-set” trigger actions – one may use a hammer and the other uses a striker, but there is a distinct similarity nonetheless. Obviously, comparisons are by their very nature going to be relative – as an example, a Ferarri is “similar” to a mini-van insomuch as they both have four wheels. On the other hand, the Ferarri is going to be “different” than a mini-van on many other levels.

Would you say the 1903 Colt Hammerless pocket pistol was influenced (ignoring the thumb safety) by Glock also? It actually has a hammer but it is hidden inside the frame. Pulling the trigger releases it causing the pistol to fire, same as a Glock so there we are.

I think I undestand where you are coming from, the Walther’s hammer is partially cocked and pulling the trigger finishes the travel until it is released, at least that’s what I think you are saying in the report. It seems to me it falls more into the catagory of DAO, some don’t have the second strike ability as a full on DA or a DA\SA auto.

The Glock’s striker is not completely “cocked” and is moved by the trigger action until it reaches full “cock” and is released firing the pistol. I just don’t think there is much if anything in common between a striker and a hammer. The mechanism is very different. If the Glock had been designed with the striker fully cocked, like a bolt action rifle for example, would you say the 1911 style pistol is a similar concept? In the same way a Ferrari and a Mini Van I guess, the 1911 being the Ferrari of course, LOL sorry I couldn’t help myself.

There are striker fired guns and hammer fired guns and some in between, I would rather point out the differences than try to invent some connection. Thanks for an interesting review and I hope you see this as a friendly debate as I do.

Your points are well taken. In my estimation, the PPX feels very similar to a Glock in the way that it functions. I understand that the internal mechanics are somewhat different, but the end result in how it works is the same.

In writing the review, it can be tricky trying to address some of the more technical aspects of the firearm without turning the article into something too wonkish and boring. Obviously, some readers are just going to want the basics, while others will enjoy getting into the details a bit deeper.

The other thing to keep in mind is that , at least in my case, this is a “consumer level” review. I don’t work for the gun industry. I just write as a hobby. This isn’t my day job (I’m an attorney).

That is probably the ugliest handgun ever. It actually looks worse than a Hi-Point.
And I see it still has an external hammer…How quaint. Still, its nice to see that someone has managed to build a 9mm that makes a P95 look slim and modern.

I’ve owned my PPX for 3 months or so and thus far, what a great hand gun. It’s accurate, reliable thus far through 1000 rounds and has a fantastic trigger IMO. I own Glocks, HK’s, Sigs and other Walthers and I rate this one right there with the rest of them. Great range or home defense gun.

I am also a PPX owner for a little over three months. This was my first gun ever, I had only fired a gun about twice ever around 15 years ago. When I went looking for a gun my research had me looking for a Glock but they were overpriced from what I saw. I found my PPX at a gun show for $400 but knew nothing about it, only the Walther name from James Bond.

I am so glad I bought it because it really feels good in the hands and is easy to aim and shoot. I shoot nearly as good as my friend who has had guns for over twenty
years. The looks have grown on me too. It’s my home defense and car gun. I’d wear it on my hip if I were an out in the woods guy.

Nice thorough review on a very good new gun that pretty much every owner I’ve heard of likes!

I just picked one up. Love the ergonomics and feel! Just fyi, the manila states that it can handle +p ammo. I don’t know why this review states otherwise. It is not rated +p+, but definitely rated +p!!!

Here is that the PPX manual states regarding the use of Plus- P ammunition: “ ‘Plus-P’ (+P) ammunition generates pressures in excess of the pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures may affect the wear characteristics of your PPX pistol or exceed the margin of safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may result in the need for more frequent service.”

With ammo prices going through the roof IF you can even find it on the store shelves the days of buying guns for range use only are coming to an end for many owners. Yes, it’s the economy – stupid, but even more than that.

The PPX is too big to carry, too ugly to display, and too expensive to buy only to leave sitting in a safe unless it’s a day at the range and those days are rapidly shrinking judging by the attendance at the ranges I frequent.

The vast majority of gun buyers want firearms they can conceal and carry.
That means they aren’t interested in carrying a brick around in their pockets or lugging a near two-pounder (loaded w/holster) around on their belt.

For the same price Kahr’s CM9-CM40-CM45, Ruger’s LC9, or the Beretta Nano can be had which solves the problems of home protection, ease of carry, and slim good looks but still packs a punch.
Sure there’s less round-count but if I can’t hit my attacker after firing 6 or 7 shots I deserve whatever I get.

Maybe I’m way off base here but IMHO Walther is wasting their time producing guns like the PPX instead of devoting their research efforts into a PPK-like low cost clone that shaves 4 or 5 ounces and $200-$300 off the price tag like Kahr did with their CM and CW series.

Sometimes I think the foreign gun manufacturers have the image of millions of licensed American gun owners open-carrying like in the old wild west days.
Instead millions of us are concealed carrying and we want to be as comfortable as possible, and at the same time we don’t want anybody else to know we’re packing heat.

Yes, I carry my Glock 19 now and then, but most of the time it’s my Kel-Tec or Kahr because they can be with me undetected anyplace I go.
The PPX is one of those guns you left at home.

well, i have read the pros and cons here regarding the ppx and walther in general. yes this is a “foreign” made weapon and lacks some of the buzzers and bells for us “americans” who, like our cars, expect everything we buy to have a built in microwave. walther has alway had a great reputation and long before some of the other companies knew what a gun was! i will stake my life on a walther if the time comes and not be concerned with the picky details that some prescribe to here. if you can buy a better handgun for the money, than, for now anyway, that is your god given right. just be careful and happy shooting!

The striker in a S&W M&P is fully cocked when the sear makes contact with, or “grabs”, the striker lug. The trigger does NOT cock the striker when pulled, but only releases the sear from the striker “lug” (thus releasing the striker and allowing it to move forward under spring tension causing the firing pin to strike the primer).

Excellent review of a very good gun. My wife is the owner of the PPX 9mm and her comments sum up this weapon. “… I can shoot this gun, it feels GOOD in my hand and I can hit my point of aim at 7 and 15 yards.” UGLY? well maybe, beauty is often in the eye of the beholder. When does a design that meets its intended purpose and does so in an efficient manner become ugly?
This gun works for her, she LOVES to shoot it. and @$400 it is a great bargain. This could be a good gun for many females. The grip is what makes it extremely nice for smaller hands.
The Walther PPX is, in fact, like the tools another reviewer mentioned. It is a tool that is easy on the hand and does the job intended. It is a tool that you will use and often reach for when work needs to be accomplished.
EASY to buy, Easy to Shoot, Easy to maintain proper grip, Easy to make bullets hit where aimed.. enough said. PPX owner

love your article , i have always wanted a p99 when it first came out but i finally just settled for the ppx, i am a first time gun owner, i live in a 10 round mag restricted state, so i am still waiting for my mags.
i have a few questions for you, please i need to know what flashlight/laser and holster to buy for my ppx and any other accessories or advice you can recommend will be greatly appreciated

Just bought the PPX Saturday to add to my light collection ( XDM 3.8 40cal, Public Defender, Glock 26 3rd Gen, Ruger LC9 with Lasermax ). I normally don’t comment about much, but after a range day with the PPX, I was very impressed. PPX was a dream to shoot. Right out of the box in was dead on accurate with a feathery trigger. I was set on buying the PPQ after doing my research, but saw a PPX locally for $375 out the door with a box of 9mm rounds. Took a night to research it and bit the bait. Saved at least $150 vs the PPQ. My XDM is my favorite concealed carry piece, but I’ll have to seriously consider replacing it with my new PPX. You can not go wrong investing in the PPX. The trigger is soooo smooth, I was shocked with the first round down range, love it. Highly recommended!

I love this pistol. I have fallen for it the first shot. I think its a great beginner side arm as well as a great personal protection for someone as experienced as I am. Coming from a a soldier. Its awesome.

I’m really interested in the 9mm ppx how ever I have heard that the quality of the walther is not so good. the firing pins have broke and replacement parts are hard to get I really like the looks and handling of the ppx but till I research this problem more I will wait to buy one. Have you heard of any one else having the firing pin break.

I have a Walther PPX and love it. It really compliments my CZ 75B as now I have full sized steel 40 S&W and a polymer 9mm. The CZ is my home defense and the PPX is my plinker as I live on a large acreage of land and built my own range for both guns and bows. I have read the manual extensively and in terms of +P issue, manual states “+P ammunition generates pressures in excess of the pressures associated with standard ammunition. Such pressures may affect the wear characteristics of your PPX pistol or exceed the margin of safety. Use of “Plus-P” ammunition may result in the need for frequent service.” +P+ must not be used in any Walther firearm. Bottom line is you can fire +P ammo without damaging the gun but it’s not recommended. In terms of the 1 year warranty, all you have to do is purchase the gun from Davidson’s Gallery of Guns and have them shipped to a Davidson’s supported FFL(they are everywhere) and your warranty will be for life. Walther also has a deal which is super. Purchase a PPX from anywhere by December 31/14 fill out a form which is on their website and receive 1 magazine, 1 holster(which has a perfect fit) and a double mag holder for just $9.95 to cover shipping and handling. Value of the 3 items is around $110.00.

I don’t get all the bashing on the appearance of the ppx, I really like the way it handles, and that is all that matters. A criminal isn’t going to stop and ask you where you got that super fabulous grip cover or slide, no one else should see it anyway. If they do, it will be the last thing they ever see. I carry the Walther PPX everyday add my cc weapon, and I absolutely love it. It’s a bit harder to conceal, being a full sized pistol, but I’m a big guy so I can’t effectively use those micro pistols you can fit in a wallet or whatever. At the end of the day, and after thousands of rounds in total, my ppx is among my most reliable, and I would (and do) trust it with my life. I understand that larger frame pistols are not for everyone, but until you shoot it, you just won’t understand

Walther probably does not offer or ever will for a conversion kit from 9mm to a .40 S&W. If you look at the price of conversion kits around different manufacturers they are priced around $350 -$400 or more and most of these are 9mm or .40 + .45 to 22 LR. You could probably just buy a .40 barrel and a couple mags and you would be on your way. Not sure what the barrels run, but I’m sure Walther would have them handy.

I just bought the PPX 9mm, although I have yet to take it to the range, I will say this: I have smurf hands (small hands) and in groping all of the pistols in the gun shop this is the one that I found that fit my hands the best and that I didn’t feel like it would fly out of my hands at the first shot. The only other one that was comparable was the Canik 9mm, had almost the same feel to it. And it was the only other one that fit in my hands. I am really excited to see what it will do on the range.

Bought a ppx for $279 on new years eve. Received a free magazine (the pistol came with two) and a holster. I. Also was sent a two slot magazine belt holster. Definitely a great deal. The pistol shoots spot on and trigger is the best double action l have ever fired. I needed a home defense weapon and l think l found a good one.